Device for monitoring and/or improving the efficiency of physical training

Abstract

A device for monitoring the efficiency of physical training in a human or animal includes a millimeter wave generator that generates millimeter wave radiation and a millimeter wave antenna that emits millimeter waves generated by the millimeter wave generator in a predetermined direction. The device includes a coupling element that couples the millimeter wave antenna to the millimeter wave generator and that transmits the millimeter wave radiation to the millimeter wave antenna. The device also includes a reference element that intermittently receives millimeter wave radiation from the millimeter wave antenna and a detector that detects millimeter wave radiation and produces a first data stream. The device further includes a processing unit that receives the first data stream and generates a signal indicating development of a body lactate level over time and an output device indicating the development of the body lactate level over time, to a user.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for monitoring and/or improving the efficiency of physical training in a human or animal, comprising:
 at least one millimeter wave generator that generates millimeter wave radiation, 
 at least one millimeter wave antenna that emits said millimeter waves generated by said millimeter wave generator in a predetermined direction, 
 at least one coupling element that couples said at least one millimeter wave antenna to said millimeter wave generator and that transmits said millimeter wave radiation generated by said millimeter wave generator to said at least one millimeter wave antenna, 
 at least one reference element that at least intermittently receives a first portion of said millimeter wave radiation from said at least one millimeter wave antenna, 
 at least one detector that detects said millimeter wave radiation and produces a first data stream, 
 circuitry configured to receive said first data stream from said at least one detector, to calculate from the first data stream a change of a body lactate level over time, to generate a signal indicating the change of the body lactate level over time, and to generate training advice based on the change of the body lactate level over time, and 
 an output device indicating said change of said body lactate level over time and said training advice to a user. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 ,
 further comprising one or more complementing sensors for sensing skin temperature, pulse, perfusion, sweat, pressure and/or skin thickness. 
 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one millimeter wave generator, at least one millimeter wave antenna, at least one coupling element, at least one reference element, and at least one detector are combined in one housing to form a sensor unit. 
 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 ,
 wherein said sensor unit comprises two millimeter wave generators, two millimeter wave antennas, two coupling elements, one reference element, and two detectors. 
 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 3 ,
 comprising several sensor units. 
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 3 , wherein said circuitry and said output device are combined in one housing to form a feedback unit, and,
 wherein said at least one sensor unit and said feedback unit communicate via a wireless data link. 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said circuitry and said output device are combined in one housing to form a feedback unit. 
 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 ,
 wherein said feedback unit is designed to be worn on a wrist of said user. 
 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said output device generates a tactile, visual or acoustic output. 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 ,
 wherein said output device shows a graph of said change of said body lactate level over time. 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said circuitry is further configured to store data relating to said change of said body lactate level over time. 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 ,
 further comprising at least one interface for downloading said data relating to said change of said body lactate level over time to an external device. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 ,
 wherein said interface is selected from the group consisting of a USB interface, a Bluetooth connection, a mobile telephone connection or a mobile data network connection. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said circuitry is further configured to time an operation of the device. 
 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said millimeter wave generator is operable to generate radiation in a range from 1 to 100 GHz. 
 
     
     
       16. A method for improving physical training in a human or animal, comprising the steps of:
 generating millimeter wave radiation, 
 directing said millimeter wave radiation to a human or animal body, 
 directing said millimeter wave radiation to a reference element in close contact with said human or animal body, 
 measuring millimeter wave radiation reflected and or transmitted by said human or animal body and by said reference element, 
 calculating a relative development and/or trend of a body lactate level over time from said measured millimeter wave radiation, and 
 providing training advice based on said development of said body lactate level over time. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 ,
 further comprising providing a waiting cycle between a start of an exercise and a start of providing the training advice. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 ,
 wherein a duration of said waiting cycle is between 3 and 10 minutes. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 ,
 wherein said step of providing training advice starts after said body lactate level has stabilized. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 ,
 further comprising a step of measuring a pulse of a user, and wherein said training advice is provided based on said relative development and/or trend of said body lactate level over time and said pulse. 
 
     
     
       21. A method for improving physical training in a human or animal, comprising the steps of:
 generating millimeter wave radiation, 
 directing said millimeter wave radiation to a human or animal body, 
 directing said millimeter wave radiation to a reference element in close contact with said human or animal body, 
 measuring millimeter wave radiation reflected and or transmitted by said human or animal body and by said reference element, 
 calculating a change of a body lactate level over time from said measured millimeter wave radiation, and 
 providing training advice based on said change of said body lactate level over time.